Currawongs in Melbourne Inner Suburbs

I just moved into Elwood a few weeks ago after previously living on the north (Heidelberg) and east (Blackburn, Mooroolbark) sides of Melbourne. Elwood is like 9km South South East of the city centre, and right on the beach. It's no where near as wooded as either Heidelberg, Blackburn or Mooroolbark, and a lot closer to the city centre than any of them, but it seems we have a bunch of Currawongs hanging around.

Note that I didn't notice them over the past 2 weeks that I've been here, just this morning. Even my girlfriend (who has lived in Elwood for 8 months) said "That's not normally a bird call we hear around here...", and so I wandered out into the back yard and caught sight of at least 3-4 of them in a gum tree, and heard the ringing calls coming from other trees in the area. If I get a chance I'll take a few pics and post them.

Anyone know if this is a common occurrence? I am guessing it may be partly due to the bushfire devastation that they've come this far into the city.

Must admit, it was a very welcome sound to wake up to on the first week of my holidays. Reminded me of many a time spent in the bush on any number of previous occasions. Brought a smile to my face at any rate. :D

We live in East Brunswick and I've just noticed a pair of pied currawongs have moved in to our local park. I always associated them with our camping holidays in east Gippsland and the high country, so was surprised to hear their lovely call around here.

Well, I don't live in the suburbs,but outside the Bunyip State Park, we have about 20 or more Magpies,grey Butcherbirds, Pied Currawongs,Magpie-larks and just one ore two Grey Currawongs fall in late afternoon.We only get that many in autum, then they move on.I don't think it has anything to do with bushfires,there weren't any for two years.The bush around here has well recovered since.

Cefiar, although I am in Sydney I do notice that the Currawongs seem to be more active, noisy and about here in the winter months for some reason. Rare to see the Grey Currawong, ones abround here are the Pied Currawongs and are very vocal early in the morning and evening.

I stay with friends two or three times a year in Noble Park, on the Dandenong line, and never heard any there to date. In Sydney they are everywhere, even in the city. Last year one had to be "removed" from around Sussex Street in the CBD due to it attacking office workers in the nesting period. Raven (Sydney NSW)

We have lived in Bayside Sandringham for 54 years and been closely observing our birds for last two years, then yesterday for the first time I heard a Currawong in a neighbours tree (a sound I know very well from my years living in Canberra suburbs which are thick with this species). I left some grapes out in the back yard today ... lo and behold we now have three big black Currawongs feeding on them. I was rather surprised and very pleased to welcome them in. We have a lot of Noisey Native Minor birds that regularly feed on our fruit offerings, which I expected to be on the attack but they have kept back and let the F-111's of the bird world have their fill of fruit. I am glad that we still don't have any Indian Minors visiting but we are starting to see them in orther parts of the suburb (we already have a trap ready in anticipation). We do have regular visits from a pair of Twany Frog-Mouth Owls looking for night mice, but mainly in the winter months. They are a delight to find. Last year we hosted Pink and Grey Gallahs in our Southern Bluegum tree hollow, they were replaced by what looked like a king parrot. We also have flocks of what I believe to be Lorikets nesting at night in the same tree. Magpies patrol the grounds for insects and there are also several Ravens who visit if I leave out the right offerings. Lots of diversity here. May it remain so.

Woko. Thanks for that... We are well aware of the issues and do follow the guidelines very closely. Our offerings are never more than a handful of grapes, a apple core and peel, a few soft cherries, and a big bowl of fresh water for a cooling bath in Summer.

You say the currawong had to be removed, do you know what exactly happened to the bird ?

They are a beautiful and very misunderstood bird.

Raven wrote:

Cefiar, although I am in Sydney I do notice that the Currawongs seem to be more active, noisy and about here in the winter months for some reason. Rare to see the Grey Currawong, ones abround here are the Pied Currawongs and are very vocal early in the morning and evening.

I stay with friends two or three times a year in Noble Park, on the Dandenong line, and never heard any there to date. In Sydney they are everywhere, even in the city. Last year one had to be "removed" from around Sussex Street in the CBD due to it attacking office workers in the nesting period. Raven (Sydney NSW)